LI contractor fined for safety violations

Lynbrook-based Sorbara Construction has been fined $72,000 by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration for alleged repeated violations of safety standards after a worker fell at one of their New York City job sites.

On March 20, a worker fell 10 feet from the 34th to the 33rd floor of a building under construction at 505 W. 37th St. after dislodging the unsecured cover of a floor hole. After an investigation, OSHA’s inspection identified several fall-related hazards including inadequate fall protection, unsecured and unmarked floor hole covers, a personal fall arrest system rigged so a worker could fall more than 6 feet and the failure to retrain workers so to ensure they would recognize hazards. Also found were ungrounded power tool, an uncovered electrical outlet and discharged fire extinguishers.

Sorbara had previously been cited by OSHA in Nov. 2008 for lacking fall protection and training and an ungrounded power tool at its work site at 333 E. 91st St. in Manhattan.

The company has 15 business days from the receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, meet with OSHA or contest them before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

A receptionist who answered the phone at Sorbara said the company declined to comment.

Sorbara was the subcontractor that operated a crane that collapsed and killed two construction workers on the Upper East Side on May 30, 2008.